Where does “spelunker” come from?
spelunker (English) comes from English spelunk, from Middle English spelunke, from Old French spelonque, from Italian spelonca, from Latin spēlunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ, from Ancient Greek σπέος — cave, cavern, grotto.
spelunker (English): One who explores caves; one who spelunks; An...
Definitions
- One who explores caves; one who spelunks; An...
Ancestry of “spelunker”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | spelunk | A cave, cavern or grotto; To explore caves; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | spelunke | A spelunk; a cave or grotto; A gravesite; where... |
| 3 | Old French | spelonque | — |
| 4 | Italian | spelonca | cave, cavern; hovel |
| 5 | Latin | spēlunca | cave; cavern; chasm |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | σπῆλυγξ | cave |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | σπέος | cave, cavern, grotto |